Temporary Fundraising & Sponsorship Advisor – Job Description
Introduction / Opportunity Framing
The Lit & Phil is entering a significant development phase through its “Lit & Phil Open” project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
We are seeking an experienced Fundraising and Sponsorship Advisor to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering our fundraising strategy at a critical moment.
This is not a steady-state role. It is an opportunity to design and implement a fundraising approach that will support both immediate project needs and long-term financial sustainability.
About the Organisation
The Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne (“Lit & Phil”) is a historic charity established in 1793, dedicated to advancing education.
- Based in central Newcastle, operating from a Grade II* listed building
- Home to over 200,000 books and music items
- Delivers approximately 150 public events annually
- Serves thousands of visitors and members each year
- Supported by staff and a strong volunteer network
The organisation is embarking on a major heritage and engagement project to expand access, grow audiences, and secure long-term sustainability.
The Role
As our Fundraising and Sponsorship Advisor, you will provide expert strategic and delivery support across two key priorities:
- Securing match funding for a major Heritage Fund Delivery Phase bid
- Building sustainable income streams to improve long-term financial resilience
You will operate both strategically and hands-on, working alongside trustees and project advisors.
You will:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising and sponsorship strategy
- Design and execute a targeted fundraising campaign for “Lit & Phil Open”
- Build a pipeline of funding opportunities across individuals, trusts, and corporate sponsors
- Strengthen and manage relationships with donors and stakeholders
- Create compelling funding proposals, applications, and reporting materials
- Develop promotional materials for fundraising campaigns
- Organise and support fundraising events and donor engagement activity
- Monitor, evaluate, and refine fundraising performance
Key Deliverables (Development Phase – 6 Months)
- Months 1–2:
- Deliver a review of current fundraising and sponsorship activity
- Provide recommendations aligned to priority funding needs
- Initiate early-stage fundraising actions
- By Month 4:
- Produce a detailed Fundraising and Sponsorship Strategy
- Include long-term sustainability planning beyond the project phase
- Provide costings and resource considerations
- By Month 5:
- Deliver a presentation of the strategy to trustees/stakeholders
- By Month 6 (September 2026):
- Secure at least 3 grants totalling £10,000+
- Secure sponsorship from at least 3 organisations
Key Deliverables (Strategic Priorities)
Priority 1: Capital / Project Funding
- Secure match funding to support a potential £4.5m Heritage Fund Delivery bid
- Develop funding streams across individuals, trusts, and corporate donors
Priority 2: Revenue Growth
- Develop fundraising approaches to increase annual income by ~40% by 2029
- Expand income across:
- Subscriptions and membership
- Sponsorship
- Events and ticketing
- Venue hire and commercial activity
Person Specification
Essential Experience & Skills
- Proven experience developing and delivering fundraising strategies
- Strong track record in securing funding (trusts, grants, corporate, or individuals)
- Excellent bid writing and proposal development skills
- Experience in donor relationship management and reporting
- Ability to design and deliver fundraising campaigns
- Strategic thinking combined with delivery capability
Desirable
- Experience working with cultural, heritage, or educational organisations
- Experience with National Lottery Heritage Fund or similar funding bodies
- Experience in membership-based organisations
Personal Attributes
- Strategic and analytical thinker
- Proactive and solutions-focused
- Able to work independently while engaging stakeholders effectively
- Adaptable within a project-based and evolving environment
- Strong communication and influencing skills
Reporting Line
- Reports to: Trustee Board Member (Finance Lead)
- Works with: Project team, trustees, and external advisors
Contract & Timeline
- Contract Type: Consultancy / Fixed-term
- Duration: Approx. 6 months (Development Phase)
- Start Date: April 2026 (or as soon as possible)
- Potential Extension: Delivery Phase (Jan 2027 – 2029), subject to funding approval
Monitoring & Reporting
- Monthly progress reports (max. 3 pages + dashboard)
- Regular engagement with trustees and project leadership
- Flexibility to respond to stakeholder and funder queries
Closing Statement
This is an opportunity to play a central role in shaping the future of a historic institution, contributing to a major heritage project while building a sustainable fundraising model for the long term.
We welcome applications from experienced advisors who can bring both strategic insight and practical delivery to this ambitious programme.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Assistant Producer
12 Month Fixed Term Contract
£35,242 - £36,959 pa
City of London E1 8QS and we are a hybrid working organisation
Please note this is a hybrid role based on the successful candidate working at least two days a week in our London office. Remote contracts would not be considered for this role.
Purpose of Role
As an Assistant Producer at Comic Relief, you’ll help bring bold stories and creative ideas to life across various platforms and outputs. With a background in celebrity, comedy or branded content, you’ll help captivate audiences and drive engagement, largely focusing on the entertainment portion of our brand, but with opportunities in factual storytelling.
With a hands-on approach and sitting at the heart of our Creative Services team, you’ll transform briefs into reality, producing high impact, engaging content that resonates with our audiences. One week you might be developing a social-first YouTube format or editing social video content, the next, supporting on a livestream, producing corporate partner communications, or helping to plan a photoshoot.
You will combine creativity with smart production processes, sparking original ideas and new approaches to how we work. By championing inclusive storytelling and amplifying diverse voices both in front of and behind the camera, you’ll help ensure Comic Relief stays bold, relevant, and truly reflective of the audiences we serve.
Key responsibilities:
· Creative innovation – strategically respond to briefs with creativity, drawing on expertise, industry and pop culture knowledge to develop bold ideas that resonate with intended audiences, drive engagement and generate income.
· Sell the vision – craft treatments, pitch decks, and creative documents to bring ideas to life and secure buy-in from stakeholders across the organisation.
· Run productions end-to-end – from research and creative ideation to shoot production, post-production, and delivery. Create schedules, manage budgets, and keep projects moving by facilitating key meetings and aligning stakeholders.
· Collaborate creatively – work closely with a diverse range of producers, writers, designers, editors, and other partners (internal and external) to develop and deliver content that meets strategic briefs.
· Support on shoots with confidence – assisting with the set up and management of production days, briefing teams and freelancers, and when necessary, camera operating and directing talent/contributors to capture the best possible content.
· Champion best practice – work with Production Management to ensure productions meet safeguarding, consent, health & safety, risk management, and legal requirements, in partnership with Production Management colleagues.
· Drive efficiency – follow operational processes to make sure resources are used smartly and projects are delivered on time and within budget.
· Champion inclusive creativity – ensure diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are at the heart of our work, both in front of and behind the lens.
· Stay culture-savvy – keep up to date on trends, platforms, and production best practice, sharing expertise across the team.
Person specification
Essential criteria
· Creative experience – you’ve helped produce entertainment or branded content for established brands, charities, or channels.
· Video production skills – confident ideating and creating engaging, relevant short-form video content from planning through to delivery.
· Shooting experience – used to arranging and contributing on shoots, including camera operating, interviewing, and supporting senior creatives.
· Editing experience – Adobe Premiere editing skills and experience edit-producing, leading video post-production for a range of outlets, particularly social media.
· Social media knowledge – experience across major platforms with an understanding of best practice, and curiosity for new trends and audience habits.
· Production know-how – attention to detail, strong editorial judgement, and ability to follow established processes and workflows.
· Multi-tasking – proven ability to manage multiple projects in dynamic environments, keeping organised and making clear editorial decisions.
· Communication skills – you can express your ideas clearly and confidently to gain stakeholder buy-in on suggested creative approaches.
Desirable criteria
· Fundraising campaign experience – you know the difference between fundraising content and awareness content, and how to approach each.
· Innovation mindset – interest in experimenting with new creative formats, platforms, or technologies.
· Income generation – experience in creating content that has a proven ability to generate income or creates new revenue streams.
· Motion graphics – ability to create own graphic elements, such as animated logos, endboards, lower-thirds, in Adobe After Effects a plus.
· Relationship building – evidence of maintaining strong partnerships with stakeholders, freelancers, and external partners.
Perks and benefits:
· Flexible working hours
· Work from home option
· Life Insurance
· Wellness programs
· Employee Assistance Programme
· Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
· Paid emergency leave
· Sabbatical Opportunities
· Professional development
· Mentoring/coaching
· Paid volunteer days
· Payroll giving
· Salary sacrifice
· Team social events
· Extracurricular clubs
· Cycle to work scheme
· Free fruit
To apply please visit our website via the link and apply online.
Comic Relief reserves the right to close the role early if a large number of applications are received.
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Comic Relief we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Why work at Comic Relief
There are lots of good reasons to join us at Comic Relief. You can read more about our employee benefits, such as our commitment to flexible and hybrid working. We ask staff to come to the office twice a week, normally on agreed team days, so that we can do all those things that are difficult to do online. Our office is based in Whitechapel, London,
There are lots of opportunities to develop your skills and experience at Comic Relief, including opportunities to become a Mental Health First Aider or to participate in our Employee Network Groups that focus on making Comic Relief a more inclusive place to work.
Disability Confident Employer
As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we take positive action by providing first-round interviews to candidates who have a registered disability, provided they meet the minimum criteria for the role, as demonstrated on their CV and application questions.
We ask that candidates that wish to be considered for this scheme email us via our website to discuss further. Please do not email CV's/cover letters.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
As Marketing Manager with strong third sector experience, you’ll oversee the day-to-day planning, production, and delivery of fundraising and awareness campaigns across digital and traditional channels.
You’ll manage timelines, creative workflows, and campaign assets ensuring every message, design, and ad reflects The Zahra Trust’s brand and moves people to give, act, and advocate.
You’ll collaborate closely with internal teams (Fundraising, Programs, and IT), as well as external agencies and vendors, to bring campaigns to life on time, on budget, and with measurable results.
This role is ideal for a hands-on project manager and storyteller who thrives in fast-paced, purpose-driven environments.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.